In my attempts to get caught up with blogging happenings from the summer, I couldn’t leave out the fact that I turned 50 in June! I have to say that I think my 50′s are going to be awesome!
If all the celebrating this milestone birthday are any indication, they will be some great years! I guess I should feel different at turning 50, the actually fact that the “number” is now 50 does seem
a bit hard to believe, but that’s all. I’m ready, let the 50′s begin…
To start off the celebration my sister Dee Dee and I planned a beach vacation for just the two of us in Sea Grove Florida. Four days, gulf front townhouse, just her and I. No kids, no husbands, just us. This was a first vacation of the sort and you know what we discovered? It won’t be the last!
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The kick off to our time together was a day on the lake with the jet skis. Jim was so kind to, as is his nature, drop them in for the two of us for the day. It was a beautiful day on the lake and we enjoyed tearing it up!
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We arrived in Sea Grove in a down pour of rain, which we later find out to be Tropical Storm Debby. We ran out to get our supplies and returned to the townhouse soaking wet! After a quick change into dry clothes we headed out the back sliding door to take a walk on the beach in a drizzling rain after dark, with only our townhouse key in tow. We returned to the townhouse and discovered that the KEY did not unlock the dead blot on the front door. Thinking perhaps we could get in through the back sliding door we trek back round the house and take turns trying to pull the door open. The fact settled in, we were locked out, without our cell phones or the keys to my van. It was decided I’d knock on the unit next to us and see if we could use their phone to call someone to come and let us in, there was a light on. No one would answer the door. A nervous laughter later, we decide to knock on the next door over. Thankfully, the kindest Grandmother, who get this, is from Nashville, and is staying at the beach with her daughter and grandaughter’s lets us in, looks up the phone number to our rental company and we get in touch with someone, who tells us, Mary will be on her way, and it will cost us $50 to be let back in. Perfect! (insert sarcasm}. Mary, it turns out, will not be one of our favorite people to remember from this trip!
As is our custom, my sister and I make light of the fact we are cold, wet, standing in the wind, at night outside our townhouse. We still believe Mary, who will be $50 richer, will be arriving any minute to let us in. Another knock on the kindly Grandmother’s door, another call requiring where this Mary is, and another assuring the kind Grandmother we will be fine to wait outside for Mary, takes place. By the time Mary arrives our “making light” of the situation has turned to something quite a bit different.
Unlocking the front door with the dead bolt key, that she had to drive all over town to get, she scurries over to the back sliding door to show us that the door can indeed be opened if we would have just tried it! I have to give it to her, that Mary was some crazy brave woman with that remark. Had she actually made eye contact with me, after I explained to her that if the door could have been opened I would have GOT’R DONE!, she would have melted to a puddle from my super power eye stare down! My sister, who is always calm under pressure, went to her purse and quietly gave Mary her $50.
The only redeeming fact we came away with from our encounter with Mary was that in her zeal-est attempt to prove to us the back door could be opened she tore the screen door UP! It was going to probably cost them $50 to have it replaced… We went to bed chuckling about that and praying tropical storm Debby would be gone when we woke up.
Our prayers were answered, Debby was not a problem for the area we were in. We had four fabulous, hot, sunny days, laughing, swimming and soaking up the beach together.
Our favorite restaurant we had dinner at was The Red Bar! The best seafood we have ever had in our life, and remember I’m 50 now… Blackened grouper on a bacon cheddar grit cake and the most delish dressing on our fresh mixed salad. We shared a slice of keylime pie and like the dinner, it was the best keylime pie ever. We later wished we would have gotten one to take home with us.
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I just love this photo of my sister, my life-long best friend! I don’t know what I would have done without her in my life. We talk on the phone everyday. I don’t laugh with anyone like I do her. She is the heart of my heart. (stealing from e.e.cummings) I’m so thankful for this birthday celebration with her!
THE PARTIES NOT OVER…
Unbeknownst to me, my wonderful friends, Anita, Kathryn and Sharon had planned a 50th birthday celebration, adventure! A White Water River Rafting trip!
What a blast! I had never been white water rafting and turning 50 was the perfect time to go. The scenery was beautiful, the ride was thrilling and my friends blessed me with their making this such a wonderful celebration! I couldn’t have asked God for a better group of friends. Each one is a gift to my life!
And as Paul Harvey would say, “Now for the rest of the story.”
After our awesome raft trip we had a great dinner in Knoxville. Adrienne, Anita’s daughter had rode with us to Knoxville to spend sometime with a friend, while we rode the river and had dinner. After we ate, we collected Adrienne and off we headed back to Nashville.
We are having a great time visiting. It’s getting close to midnight, when Anita, who is driving, leans forward to look at the dash panel and says, “Oh no, we’re out of gas!” She pulls over to the shoulder, we look at each other, and burst out laughing! I’m laughing just thinking about it! It was a moment you just had to be there.
It wasn’t a few minutes before a deputy sheriff shows up and tells us someone passing us called in a van needed assistance. I’m convinced Anita’s FOP licence plates were a big help as the Deputy sped off to get us some gas. Anita’s husband is a metro police officer. While we are waiting for him to return, Kathryn remembers she has some gourmet cupcakes that she breaks out for us to eat and they sing “Happy Birthday” to me in the middle of the night sitting beside the interstate. Classic!
After we took these photos, waiting for the deputy to return, we laughed so hard and so long our side were killing us! Playing off each other laughing kept us on a non stop laugh fest. The expressions and Adrienne sitting in the back like that, I was beside myself.
This is how we roll. These are the women God knew I needed… Women of faith, women of courage, women with a sense of crazy adventure and laughter. Thank you Girlies! You mean the world to me.
Are you still with me? If so, there is just one more post to write about…
Back to the Beach, with my GUYS…
Two weeks later we were heading to Destin for 7 days of sun, and surf!
Me and the love of my life, Jim. (what’s up with my hair?)
Our awesome and handsome son, Calvin. (now there’s some hair!)
Maiden voyage for my kite I bought in Boulder CO. two years ago. Isn’t it pretty?!
I have to say, this was one of the best summer’s I’ve had in I don’t know how long!
Thanks for dropping by the blog.
More to share SOON…
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by Laurie
Laurie - We just have the best time. I too look forward to all our future adventures! Love you Friend!
Kathryn - This is so beautifully written Laurie and took me right back to our day on the river! I love you dearly and am so thankful God gave the world a precious gift 50 years ago that I would eventually meet and cherish. Love you like a sister and I’m looking forward to lots more adventures!